Carton erecting machine



Oct. 7,1952 R. o. wox-:LFER Y 2,612,823

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Filed Aug. 14, 1948 R E F E O w O. R.

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Patentec Oct. 7, 1952 CARTON ERECTING MACHINE I Robert Otto Woelfer, Railway, N. J., assignor to Container Equipment Corporation, Newark, N.` J., a corporationv of New Jersey Application August 14,1948, Serial N0. 44,257

This invention relates to improvements in machines for closing and sealing pasteb'oard cartons of the general type shown e. g.' in United States Letters Patent No. 2,390,107 to Kucklinsky, dated December 4, 1945.

An object of this invention is to provide a carton closing and sealing machine with novel means for automatically feeding initially atly collapsed cartonsfrom a stack thereof into the receiving end of the machine, and thereupon expanding or squaring the carton bodies, and thus set up the same in open condition ready for reception of articles desired to be inserted thereinto, means being provided for closing and sealing one end ef a carton, whereafter, by the further operation of the machine, the remaining end ofv a filled carton is closed and sealed ready for discharge from the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide the machine with a lling station zone having means for moving an article into aligned opposition to an open end of anexpanded carton, so as to facilitate insertion of the article into said carton; means being further provided for closing at least partially the opposite end of the carton whileA the latter is moving into and through the filling-station zone.

Other objects of the invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which: i

Fig. l is a plan view ofthe receiving end portion of a carton closing and sealing machine which'is equipped with the novel carton feeding and opening mechanism and with the article positioning means, as well as other improved features according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View, taken on lin-e 2 2 in Fig. 1, but drawn on a somewhat enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a view similar to that 3. Claims. (VCI. 93-53) of Fig. 2, but showing a delivered collapsed carton in the act of being expanded or squared by the carton opening mechanism; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, in the plane of line 4-4 in Fig. l, but drawn on an enlarged scale, the same showing the means forA controlling movements of a top suction device which forms a part of the carton opening mechanism; Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, but showing the top suction device in the course-of its lifting movement.

Fig. S is a fragmentary plan View in part section of portions of the means for closing carton side flaps at the end of a carton opposite to that which is presented in open condition for the reception of an article.

Fig. 'I is a fragmentary vertical longitudinalu section, taken on line I-l in Fig. 1 showingjthe means for moving an article into aligned opposition to the open end of a carton into which it is desired to introduce said article; and Fig.`

8 is a 'transverse vertical section, takenon line 8-8' in Fig. 1.

Similar'characters o f reference are employed in the above described views, to indicatecorresponding parts.

The accompanying drawings show therjeceiving end portion of a carton closing and sealing machine of thegeneral type disclosed in the hereinabove referred to United States Letters Patent No. 2,390,107, said machine being provided with a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending and parallel channeledv track bars I0, through which run the respective. `upv per, forwardly moving, operative courses of a continuously running carton propelling conveyor chains Il. Said conveyer chains are supported and driven by'sprockets, including idler sprockets I2 over which run the lower return courses of said chains. The shafts I3 ofthesprockets I2 are journaled in bearing hangers i4. Said bearing hangersA I4 depend from longitudinal bars I5 which form parts ofthe machine framework. From the sprockets' I2, the conveyer chains l I are led over supporting guide mem-A bers l0 lto and for entrance into the channeled track bars I0. Mounted upon the conveyer chains Il, at suitably spaced longitudinal in,- tervals, therealong, are carton propelling members I6. which engage the rear sides of cartons,

assupported upon and in bridging relation across Airlxed to each outer supporting rail I1, tov

project laterally outward therefrom, are a pair of parallelly spacedl carrier rods I9, lthe 'outer ends of which are bridged by a stationary cross- 3 piece 2li. Slidably mounted on each pair of carrier rods I9 is a cross-head 2|. Mounted in Fixed to each cross-head ZI is an inner upstanding angle bar 23; said angle bars 23 denne thev inner corners of the magazine which is adapted to hold a stack of initially natly collapsed cartons. Suitably axed to each inner angle bar 23, to extend longitudinally and horizontally outward therefrom, is a slotted side arm' 24, to

the free end portion of which is adjustably se cured, by a clamp nut means 25, an outer upstanding angle bar 2B; said angle bars 26 deine the outer corners of; the magazine which is adapted to hold the stack of initially flatly collapsed cartons. Y v

Carton delivery means is provided for withdrawing the bottommost collapsed carton C from a stack of cartons held in the previously def scribed magazine, and thereupon advancing the same for deposit upon and across the receiving end portions of the channeled track bars I in position to be engaged by conveyer chain carried carton propelling members I5, so as to be moved by the latter through and subject to the operation of carton expanding or squaring mechanism, -and thence past thecarton lling station or zone and through carton end nap closing and sealing mechanisms with which the machine is provided. y

The carton delivery means comprises a pair of delivery chains 21 which are respectively disposed to run contiguous to the inner sides of the respective channeled track vbars IU and the inner supporting rails I8 which extend from the latter. Said delivery chains 21 are continuously driven by inner drive sprockets 28, the shafts 29 of which are journaled in the hanger bearings I4. Said delivery chains run over outer idler sprockets 38, the shafts 3i of which are journaled in outer bearing portions 32 with which the outer ends of said inner supporting rails I8 are provided. The forwardly moving courses of the delivery chains 21 pass beneath the bottom of the magazine, and said courses are supported againstv sag by supporting bars 33, which are respectively Xed to the inner faces of the inner `Supporting rails I8 and of the receiving end portions of the channeled guide bars IB. Mounted on the delivery -chains 21, at spaced longitudinal intervals therealong, which intervals correspond to the spacing of the 'carton propelling members I6.on the conveyer chains II, are push lingers 34. Said push ngers'34 are so shaped and are adapted to so project from the topof the forwardly moving courses of the delivery chains 21, as to pass through the bottom of the previously described magazine and, in so passing, to engage the rearward edge of the bottommost carton C of the stack of cartons held in said magazine, and thus to propel said bottornmost carton forwardly out of said magazine, and thereupon advance it so as to deposit the same kupon and across the channeled track bars I0 in position to be thereafter operatively engaged by carton propelling members I6 of forwardly moving courses of the conveyer chains Ii which ride in said channeled track bars Ill (see Fig. 2). The lower ends of the inner angle bars 23 of the magazine structure are spaced relative to the top planes of the supporting rails I1 and I3 so as to provide a, carton discharge passage or opening 35 at the inner side of said magazine structure. The said passage or opening 35 is of height adapted to permit outward movement of a bottommost carton C, while retaining all cartons above the latter 'against outward movement or displacement.

The delivery chains 21 are driven, from shafts I3 by chain and sprocket transmission 28 at a speed which synchronizes with the speed of the conveyer chains I I, so that the movements of the push fingers 34 are properly coordinated with the movements of the carton propelling members I6, so that a delivered carton is assured of properly timed deposit upon the receiving end portions of the track bars ID in advance of the approach of carton propelling members by which such carton is to be moved through the machine.

Secured to outer sides of the respective track bars I0, vso as to be laterally offset therefrom at locations beyond but adjacent to the discharge side of the magazine structure, are bracket members 36 having upstanding slotted supporting posts 31. Said posts 31 are disposed in laterally opposed and aligned relation. Supported by said respective posts 31, on inwardly extending arms 38 adapted to be afxed to the latter, are inverted U-shaped hanger brackets 39, each having a dependent outer hanger plate 4) and a dependent inner hanger plate 4I. Said hanger brackets 39 respectively overhang the respective track bars I0. The outer hanger plates 40 support forwardly extending keeper rails 42, which preferablyV lie in the vertical planes of the outer side portions of the respective track bars IG. The inner hanger plates 4I support forwardly projecting fulcrum bars 43. These fulcrum bars 43 are slidably supported by and between guide gibs 44 with which said inner hanger plates 4I are provided. Said fulcrum bars 43 are longitudinally slotted for engagement with clamp stud and nut means 45 by which the same may be locked to the inner hanger plates 4I in desired longitudinally adjusted positions.v Said hanger brackets may be vertically adjusted upon the supporting posts 31, whereby to space the keeper rails 42 and fulcrum bars 43 relative to the track bars I0, according to the height of a given expanded or opened carton desired to be operated upon by the machine.

Pivotally connected with the forward free end portions of the respective fulcrum bars 43, so as to freely swing in vertical planes, are carton detent lever arms 46 which form an important part of the carton expanding or opening mechanism according to vthis invention. Said detent lever arms 46 terminate at their free ends in carton engageable detent means adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of a collapsed carton C as advanced by the carton propelling members I6 of the conveyer chains II. In a preferred form of said carton engageable detent means, the detent lever arms are provided at their free ends with downwardly offset bearing ears 41, and rotatably mounted on journal studs 48, carried by said bearing ears, are detent rollers 43. The peripheries of each detent roller, at its inner or rearward side, angularly intersects the under edge of the detent lever arm 46 with which it is associated, whereby to form a receiving notch, at the juncture of such intersection, in which the leading edge of a collapsed carton C may engage; which leading edge is formed by the juncture of a leading side panel and a top face panel of the collapsed carton. Preferably the detent rollers are provided with antifriction bearings (not shown), whereby the same may rotate with a minimum of resistance about. the journal studs 48 bywhich they are supported.

Extending forwardly from the magazine structure, at each side thereof, is an aligning strip or stop 50. A collapsed carton C, as it is issued from the magazine structure, is caused to pass between said strips or stops, so that the latter respectively abut opposite ends of the 'collapsed carton, thus retaining the same-against endwise shifting displacement, both as it is moved to a position to be operated upon by the carton expanding or opening mechanism and while it is undergoing expanding or opening manipulation.

`Said supporting posts 3l are each provided with a rearwardly projecting arm 5I, to the free end portion of which is pivotally connected a vertically swingable link 52. Pivotally attached to the free end portions of the respective links 52 are weighty hold-down shoes 53, which are superposed upon and aligned with underlying portions of the outer supporting rails l1 and the track bars ID. As a collapsed carton C issues from the magazine structure, end portions of said collapsed carton pass beneath said shoes 53, so that the latter bear, under gravity, upon said end portions, and thus hold the collapsed carton flatly down uponthe supporting guide rails Il and track bars lil until it is brought into position to be operated upon by the carton expanding or opening mechanism.

The hereinbefore described detent lever arms lili are subject to down swinging movements under gravity, and the same are provided with laterally projecting stop lugs 54, `which are adapted to abut the track bars I9, whereby to limit the down swinging movements of said detent lever arms 45 and thus establish normal initial positions thereof. When said detent lever arms i6 are thus arrested in down swung normal initial positions, the detent rollers i9 are disposed to lie in the path of forward movement of a collapsed carton C, as the latter is engaged and advanced by the carton propelling members I6 of the conveyer chains il. Under these circumi stances, the leading edge of said collapsed carton is carried into the receiving notches formed where the lower edges of the detent lever arms lili and peripheries of the rollers lie intersect as above mentioned (see Fig. 2.)

Since the forward movement of the propelling members I6 is continuous, the collapsed carton C, once engaged between said propelling members i5 and the detent rollers t9, is subjected to expanding or opening stresses by reason of the fact that its top face panel t is temporarily detained against that movement by the engaging detent rollers G9, while the bottom face panel b is moved onward by the engaging propelling members I6. As a result of this, the forward side panel f and the rearward side panel'r' are caused to swing upward about the hinging junctures between the same and the bottom face panel b, while at the same time the top face panel t swings about its hinging junctures with said side panels (see Fig. 3). These movements continue until the side panels stand erect, i. c perpendicularly to the top and bottom face panels tand b, with said rearward side panel r abutted flatly against the thrusting faces of the propelling members 6 I6, and with the raised top face panel t abutted against the under-edges of the keeper rails 42, thereby completing the setting up of the thus manipulated carton in expanded or open condition.

vAfter the'carton is thus'expanded or opened,-

continued forward'movement thereof," under the impulsion offthe propelling "members i6, exerts irresistible thrust against the detent rollers y4%) which Vcauses the'latte'r to ride upwardly over the leading edge of "the raised top face panel t, with accompanying continued upswing of the detent lever arms 46, whereby the open carton is freed from the restraint of these parts as it moves onward under the impulsion of the propelling members I6.

'Ihe carton opening mechanism, as thus far described, may alone be employed for the carton opening operation when the cartons to be operated upon are of small size or are of larger sizes made of comparatively stiff pasteboard or cardboard. In many cases, however, the cartonsvto be manipulated may be of extra large size, or may be made of thin and easily flexedstock, or may possess face panels which yare weakened by window openings with or without glazing of transparentr cellulosic material or the like. In such cases, it is generally desirable to provide the carton opening mechanism with auxiliary pneumatic deviceswhich are adapted to cooperate with and to function in coordinated relation to the already 'described carton opening mechaanism.

Said auxiliary pneumatic devices comprise a carton bottom face panel suction eiected gripper means and a carton top face panel suction effected gripper means; each said means being provided with means for properly timing and controlling its operative engagement with said respective parts.

In a preferred form and arrangement thereof, as shown, the carton bottom face panel gripper mechanism comprises a slideway member which is affixed to and depends from a framework bar l5 beyond but adjacent to the inner ends of the delivery chains 21. Said slideway member 55 is provided on its inner face with a slideway channel 55 by which is guided a vertically reciprocable slide block 5l. Afxed to said slide block 51 is a suitably shaped, forwardly extending carrier member 58. Mounted on the lower end portion of said slideway member 55 is a rotatable cam 59 which operatively engages a roller stud 60 on the lower end portion of the slide block 51, whereby to produce suitably timed vertical reciprocatory movements of said slide block and the carrier member 5B supported thereby. The shaft BI of cam 59 is journaled in the lower end portion of the slideway member 55. and is driven by chain and sprocket transmission 52 from the shaft I3 of one of the sprockets i2 over which a conveyor chain Il runs. Pivotally supported upon the carrier lmember 58 is an oscillatable carrier lever 63. The upwardly extending arm of said carrier lever 63 is yieldably held in a rearwardly swung normal initial position, which positionv is determined by the engagement of a stop' lug 64 thereof with a stationary stop post 65 with which the carrier member 53 is provided. The carrier lever is yieldably held in said normal initial position by a pull spring 56 which is connected between its lower army and a spring anchoring bracket 61 which is affixed to and depends from said carrier member 5B. Attached to the free end portion of the upper "arm of the carrier lever 63, by a holding clips,

is a exible air hose 69. The upper end portion of said air hose extends upwardly between the track bars I D, and attached to the upper extremity of said hose is a suction cup 10. The hose 69 extends to an air exhaust pump (not shown), by means of which air may be exhausted from the suction cup 'I0 so as to permit the latter to exeroise suction induced grip upon the bottomface panel 1* of a carton, when the latter -is brought into position tobe operated lupon by the carton opening mechanism.

In the operation of the described carton bottom face panel gripper mechanism, when a co1- lapsed carton reaches a position on the supporting channeled track bars I at which it makes initial engagement with the detent lever arms 46 andV their detent rollers 49, and is subject to forward impulsion by the carton propellingI members I5, the rotating cam 59 is adapted to apply its high part to and with upward sliding effect upon the slide block l'. The upward movement thus imparted tov the slide block 51 moves the carrier member 58 and carrier lever 63 upward, whereby to raise the suction cup 'I0 into suction gripping relation to the underside of the carton bottom face panel o (as shown in Fig. 2), so that said panel b is held flatly down upon the supporting track bars Il) against upward displacement therefrom, while the top face panel t is being raised to expand or open the carton. Since the carton is being advanced along the track bars I 0 while its bottom face panel b is thus gripped by the suction cup l0, said suction cup will be carried forward therewith. Such forward movement of the gripping suction cup is permitted by the yielding forward swing of the carrier lever G3 against the tensionof the pull spring 6E (see Fig. 3). By the time the forward movement of the carton in conjunction with the above described carton expanding oropening effect of the detent lever arms i6 and their detent rollers i9 completes the expanding or opening of the carton, the rotatlnpI cam 59 carries its low part into opposition to the slide block 5l, so that the latter moves downward. The downward movement of said slide block 5l lowers the carrier member 58 and carrier lever E3, thus downwardly withdrawing the suction cup 'I0 and breaking the vacuum therein so as to release said cup from the carton bottom face panel r, whereafter the carrier lever 63 swings forward and returns to its normal initial stopped position, all whereby the bottom face panel suction gripper means is reset for repetition of its above described operations when a succeeding collapsed carton is presented for expanding or opening manipulation.

A preferred form and arrangement of carton top face panel suction eiected gripper means, shown, comprises a carrier lever II which is pivot-ally supported for oscillation in a vertical plane. To so support said carrier lever ll, one of the previously described supporting posts 3l is provided with a rearwardly oiset, upstanding bearing arm l2, to which the rearward end of said carrier lever li is pivotally connected at '13. Anixed to the forward free end portion of 'the carrier lever li is an inwardly extending rod or arm of such length that its free end overhangs the channeled track bars i0 so as to lie in a vertical plane intermediate the latter. Attached to the free end of the rod or arm 74, by a holding clip 75, is a flexible air hose lt. A downwardly extending ree end portion of said air hose terminates in a suction cup l?, so that the latter is downwardly directed toward a carton advanced over said channeled track bars i0. The oppositely extending body portion of said air hose I6 is led to an exhaust pump (not shown), by means of which air may be exhausted from the suction cup l1, so-as to permit the latter to exercise suction induced grip upon the top face panel t of a carton C, when said carton is brought into position to be operated upon by the carton opening mechanism. Means is provided for producing timed oscillation of the carrier lever lI, said means comprising an actuating crank arm 78 which is mounted on and revolved by the shaft I3 of one of the sprockets I2 over which a con veyer chain runs. Connected by its lower end to said crank arm 'I8 is a connecting rod 79, the upper end of which is pivotally coupled at 8D to the carrier lever 'II at a point intermediate the ends of the latter.

In the operation of the above described carton top face panel gripper mechanism, when a collapsed carton reaches a position on the supporting track bars IU at which it makes initial engagement with the detent lever arms d6 and their detent rollers 19, the revolving crank arm T3 moves through its downswinging phase, whereby to swing downwardly the carrier lever 'i i, and thus to lower the suction cup TI into suction gripping relation to the carton top face panel t (see Fig. 2). As the carton bottom face panel b is advanced along the track bars I while the top face panel t is detained with rising movement to effect the carton expanding or opening manipulation hereinbefore described, the crank arm 'I8 is timed to pass into and through its upswinging phase so as to swing upward the carrier lever l with accompanying rising movement of the suction cup 'whereby the latter retains its suction grip upon said top face t and thereby assists the rising movement of said panel (see Fig. 3). After the top face panel t reaches its fully raised position so as to abut the keeper rails d2, the upswinging movement of the crank arm 78 and carrier lever II continues to the limit of its upward movement, thus lifting the suction cup 'Il relative to the carton to break the vacuum therein so as to release the grip of the suction cup upon the carton top face panel t, as the expanded or opened carton is moved onward along the track bars I 0. This completes the cycle of operation of the carton top face panel gripper mechanism and resets the same for repetition of its above described operations, when a succeeding collapsed carton is presented for expanding or opening manipulation.

The carton most commonly employed is of the type which is provided at each end with side flaps s and s and top and bottom iiaps a: and y.

After a carton C has been expanded and thus set up in endwise open condition, its advance over the guide bars I 0, under the impulsion of the propelling members i6, causes the same to traverse e, filling station zone which is located at one side of the machine. As the carton moves relative to the iilling station zone, means is provided, at the side of the machine opposite to that at which said filling station zone is located, which operates to at least close the side flaps s and s at the end of the carton remote from the iilling station or zone. The means for effecting closing manipulation of these side iiaps comprises a stationary folder rail 8i) having at its rearwardly directed end an outwardly and rearwardly inclined folding plow 8I by which the leading side ap s is engaged as the carton moves to pass behind said ton, the inswung flap s'thence passing behind the folder rail 8|! by which it is Aretained in said inswung closed relation to the carton end. A rotary folder device is provided for thereafter inswinging thetrailing side flap s. This rotary folder device comprises an -oscillatable arm 82, which-is adapted to be swung forward and back-in horizontal plane, and which is provided a-tvits .free end with suitably shaped s forwardly directed folder linger means 8.3. Said --folder varm-82 `is fixed on the upper end of a suitably .iournaled perpendicular shaft 84. Means Ato oscillateisaid shaft 8d, and thus effect suitably timed ,oscillatory movementof the arm 82 andv its folder ginger means 83 comprises an actuating lever-85 fixed on the lower end of said shaft. lMounted in'the'machine, and adapted to be suitably Yconnected with the power transmission of the latter (not shown), so as to be driven therebyis a rotatable shaft 85 to which is xed a crank arm-'81. LInterconnect-,ed l

between said crank armrl and the ac tuating'lever 85 of the oscillatable shaft 84 is a connecting rod 88 (see Fig. 6). in such timed relation to the carton advancing speed of the conveyer chains and its carton propelling members IG las to initiatea :forward swing of the oscillatable arm 82 lafter/each carton reaches a positional*I which the leading side flap s is about to be engaged and infolded by the folding plow 8|. As the carton moves .pastv said folding plow 8|, so that the leading sidev flaps is engaged and inswung thereby, theforward swing of the arm 82 carries its folder iingermeans 83 against the outer face of the trailing sidefiiap s', whereby to inswing this flap at least tothe extent that its free end will be engagedbyv the folding plow 8i, and thenguided by thevlatter to pass behind the folder rail 88 and thereby held in fully The crank arm/8l is revolved' inswung closed relation to theadjacent open endc of the carton. After the trailing-side flap sV is thus manipulated and closed, the arm 82 is swung back to normal initial'position, readyvto repeat its folding operation upon the next succeeding open carton as it is advanced to pass through the'lling station zone. c -v l,

At the filling station Zone is located means for moving an article into aligned .koppositioncto an open end of an expandedcarton, whenA the latter is presented for reception of said article. This means comprises a pair of laterallyy spacedend less conveyer chains 89 which run parallel tolthe carton conveyer chains l. Said conveyer chains 89 are supported by sprockets 98` and 9|',the sprockets 98, which serve asvdriving sprockets, being mounted on an extension ofa shaft 29 which drives a sprocket 28 by which `rcartonfdelivery chain 2 is actuated. As,.thusdrivemV said conveyer chains 8S are moved at a speed-in'syn-` chronism with the speed of said carton delivery chains 2l and that of thejmaincarton conveyer chains il. Supported bysuitable standards 92, above and contiguous to the upper forwardly moving courses of fthe conveyerlchai-ns 89, isa loading table `Siti. Bridging the conveyer chains 89 are article aligning push-bars 94. Thesezpush bars Sli are spaced along the conveyer chains at the same intervals asthat of the push iingersfSd on the carton delivery conveyer chains :27 and as that of the carton propelling'membersir on the main conveyer chainsv The opposite :end portions of said push-bars-,Slrespectivelyover# hang the opposite side margnsxof f the loading 110 table 93, andare aixed to the respective conveyer chains j89 by offset brackets .85 `with which the exterior sides of said lconveyer chains are .provided, said rbrackets-95 hav-ing* upstanding posts 96, which straddle the loading-table, and 'to which the overhanging ends-ofthe push-bars are rigidly attached. rBy reason ofy such offset connection of thepush-bars v9,4 .with the conveyer vchains-,89 by which they are carried, said push-bars, linoperation, will be carried over the rearward end of the `loadi-ngftable :9S-so as vto thereafter be caused to slide forwardlyiupon the topsurface'of the loadingtable, when Vadvanced 'by-:the forwardly moving courses ofmsaid,-conveyerfchains (see Fi-gs, 7

andfS) y suitably supported 'adiacentto Ithe rearward end :of vthe :loadingtab-le sity-is anarticle receiving chute 91, the inner Vend offwhichis spaced from the rear*end'fofrtheloading table `so as `to lprovide an intermediate clearance passage k-Sl' through which the `push-bars 'mayypassonto the top surface of the loading table. Similarly, suitably vlocated fandsupported ladjacent to the Aforward lend of the loading table is an article discharge chute i c 99,"the inner endo'fwhich islikewise spaced'f-roin 'the lforwardvendf'of the table so as to 'provide an intermediate clearance passage 1| ille Vthrough which the push-bars .may pass off from the loading table. Defective articles "maybe allowed to passo'ff 'the loadingtable onto v'the discharge chute, from which the samemayberernoved. l

Meansv is :provided-for lholding the top and botto'rn flaps l'and y, at the open'fend of a carton Crwhich -is opposed tothe filling sta-tion zone, re-

spectively inupwardly inclined and downwardly inclined-positions, and soas to beprevented from oifering impedance to movement of an article from "the loading table 93 into the carton C.

The means which is operative upon the top ilap x comprises-a longitudinally disposed, laterally and upwardly inclined topffender plate i0 l, the same 'being supported by. carrier `bracket means |02 adapted tobe aiixed to and extend from'l an adjacent keeper rail 42j las thus disposed,'said top'fender 'plate lies between the openendof a presented carton C and the inner side of the loading tableS9'3.- -At its rearwardfe'nd,

said top fender plate |0| is provided with a somewhat downwardly inclined guide tongue |03. As an expanded carton 'approaches lthe filling station vzone, said Aguide tongue 03 passes `beneath the extending'top flap mso as `to lift 'and guide thev same onto Athe upper surface `of thetop fender plate lill .(seievFigsl 'and 8). When thus supported by'the top 'fender' plate, said top flap :1: is held upwardly inclined yand out of the 4path of anV article'when thelatter is 'pushed off the loading' table and into 'andthrough the open lend of the` presented carton C.

The means which is Ioperan-ve uponith'e bottom' ap y also comprises a longitudinally disposed but laterally and downwardly inclined bottom fender plate |04 which is supportedby carrier bracket means` |85.A adapted to'be affixed to 'and extend-from ian adjacent channeled ,track kbar 18. Said bottom-fender Vplate |04 also'lies between the open end 'Lof'a presented carton C and the inner side of theloading table '93. Atsits'rearwardk end, said bottom fendergplatelllis provided with a somewhat upwardly inclined guide tongue 10. n As v anA vexpanded `carton approaches the filling station zone, rsaid guide tongue '|86 passes over the extending bottom flap y so 'astof tendant or an assistant from the receiving chute 91 onto the rearward end of the loading table 93, so as to lie in the path of movement of an approaching article aligning push-bar 94. An article thus deposited upon the loading table is engaged by a forwardly moving push-bar 94 and advanced over the table surface to the point at which an open carton C is presented for its reception. The position oi the article engaging push-bar 94 relative to the carton propelling members I6 by which an open carton is being simultaneously advanced is such that, as said carton moves to article receiving position, said engaging pushbar will be aligned with the rear side panel 1^ of the carton, so that, on arrival of the carton in article receiving position, the attendant may push said article by hand through the presented open end of the carton and into the interior thereof. Iri so doing, `the push-bar is utilized by the attendant as a means for guiding the movement of the article into the carton.

It will be understood that the carton closing and sealing machine, in which the above described novel mechanisms are designed to be incorporated, is usually provided, beyond the filling station zone, with devices for completing the closing and sealing of the closure ilaps at both ends of the illled carton. Since various types and forms of devices for such purposes are well known and per se form no part of the instant invention, the same have not been shown.

It will also be understood that carton closing and sealing machines adapted to be adjusted to accommodate the functional parts thereof for operation upon various selected sizes of cartons are also known to the art; an example of such type of adjustable machine being disclosed in the hereinbefore mentioned in Patent No. 2,390,107 to Kucklinsky. In such machines, the carton conveyer mechanism and associated flap closing and sealing devices are laterally expandible and contractible to adjust the same to a carton of given length. The keeper rails 42 together with the fulcrum bars 43 which support the carton detent lever arms 46 may be vertically adjusted upon the slotted supporting posts 31 to accommodate the same to a carton of given height. Also magazine angle bars 23 and 24 are relatively movable toward and from each other, whereby to selectively size the magazine for the reception of collapsed cartons of given dimensions.

For the purposes of explaining the instant invention and its mode of operation. it has been desirable to describe in some detail particular constructions shown in the drawings by way of illustration, but it will be obvious that the invention is capable of various embodiments, with suitable changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the parts. It is therefore not desired that the invention be limited by the drawings and the foregoing description except to that extent indicated by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a carton closing and sealing machine CTl 12 having track means to support cartons moved through the machine and a continuously running main conveyer for propelling the cartons along said track means, means for supplying collapsed cartons to the machine comprising a l magazine mounted adjacent to the receiving end of said track means to hold a, stack of collapsed cartons, a continuously running carton delivery conveyer traversing the bottom of the magazine and having push iingers to engage and withdraw bottommost cartons from the magazine, the discharge end of said carton delivery conveyer lapping the receiving end portion of the track means and the associated main conveyer whereby to deliver withdrawn collapsed cartons onto the track means subject to advance along the latter by the main conveyer, at least one pivoted detent lever arm disposed to overhang the track means subject to swinging movement toward and from the latter, said detent lever arm being adapted to engage a delivered collapsed carton at the juncture of its upper face panel and leading side panel so as to detain and lift said upper face panel while advance of the bottom face panel over the track means is effected by the main conveyer, thereby to expand the carton to endwise open condition, a bottom suction gripper means adapted to be moved into engagement with the bottom face panel of the collapsed carton so as to hold the same against displacement from the track means while advanced thereover by the main conveyer, and an oscillatable top suction grippervmeans adapted to be lowered to engage the upper panel of the collapsed carton and, whenfthereafter raised, to assist in lifting said upper panel for carton expanding eiect, said top suction gripper means comprising a pivoted carrier lever mounted above the receiving portion of the track means for swinging movement toward and from a carton on the track means, a iiexible air suction hose aiixed to the free end of said carrier lever, said hose having a free end portion dependent from the carrier lever and terminating in a, carton engageable suction cup, a rotated crank-arm to produce timed oscillation of the carrier lever, and a connecting rod connecting said carrier lever with the crank-arm.

2. In a carton closing and sealing machine having track means to support cartons moved through the machine and a continuously running main conveyer for propelling the cartons along said track means, means for supplying collapsed cartons to the machine comprising a magazine mounted adjacent to the receiving end of said track means to hold a stack of collapsed cartons, a continuously running carton delivery conveyer traversing the bottom of the magazine and havingl push fingers to engage and withdraw bottommost cartons from the magazine, the discharge end of said carton delivery conveyer lapping the receiving end portion of the track means and the associated main conveyer whereby to deliver withdrawn collapsed cartons onto the track means subject to advance along the latter by the main conveyer, at least one pivoted detent lever arm disposed to overhang the track means subject to swinging movement toward and from the latter, said detent lever arm being adapted to engage a delivered collapsed carton at the juncture of its upper face panel and leading side panel so as to detain and lift said upper face panel while advance of the bottom face panel over the track means is effected by the main conveyer, thereby to expand the carton to endwise open condition, a, bottom suction gripper 13 means adapted to be moved into engagement with the bottom face panel of the collapsed carton so as to hold the same against displacement from the track means while advanced thereover by the main conveyer, said bottom suction gripper means comprising a vertically reciprocable carrier member mounted beneath the receiving end portion of the track means, means to produce timed reciprocation of said carrier member toward and from a carton on the track means, a carrier lever pivotally mounted on the carrier member subject to forward and back swinging oscillation, means to yieldably hold said carrier lever in normal initial back swung position, a flexible air suction hose affixed to the upper free end of said carrier lever, and said hose having an upwardly projecting free end portion-terminating in a carton engageable suction cup, and an oscillatable top suction gripper means adapted to be lowered to engage theupper panel of the collapsed carton and, when thereafter raised, to assist in lifting said upper panel for carton expanding effect.

3. In a carton closing and sealing machine having track means to support cartons moved through the machine and a continuously running main conveyer for propelling the cartons along said track means, means for supplying collapsed cartons to the machine comprising a magazine mounted adjacent to the receiving end of said track means to hold a stack of collapsed cartons, a continuously running carton delivery conveyer traversing the bottom of the magazine and having push fingers to engage and withdraw bottommost cartons from the magazine, the discharge end of said carton delivery conveyer lapping the receiving end portion of the track means and the associated main conveyer whereby to deliver withdrawn collapsed cartons onto the track means subject to advance along the latter by the main conveyer, at least one pivoted detent lever arm disposed tooverhang the track means subject to swinging movement toward and from the latter, said detent lever arm being adapted to engage a, delivered collapsed carton at the juncture of its upper face panel and leading side panel so as to detain and lift said upper face panel while advance of the bottom face panel over the track means is eiected by the main conveyer, thereby to expand the carton to endwise open condition, a bottom suction gripper means adapted to be moved into engagement with the bottom face panel of the collapsed carton so as to hold the same against displacement from the track means while advanced thereover by the main conveyer, said bottom suction gripper means comprising a, vertically reciprocable carrier member mounted beneath the receiving end portion of the track means, means to produce timed reciprocation of said carrier member toward and from a carton on the track means, a carrier lever pivotally mounted on the carrier member subject to forward and back swinging oscillation, means to yieldably hold said carrier lever in normal initial back swung position, a exible air suction hose aiixed to the upper free end of said carrier lever, and said hose having an upwardly projecting free end portion terminating in a carton engageable suction cup. an oscillatable top suction gripper means adapted to be lowered to engage the upper panel of the collapsed carton and, when thereafter raised, tov assist in lifting said upper panel for carton expanding effect, said top suction gripper means comprising a pivoted carrier lever mounted above the receiving portion of the track means for swinging movement toward and from a carton on the track means, a flexible air suction hose aflixed to the free end of said carrier lever, said hose having a free end portion dependent from the carrier lever and terminating in a carton engageable suction cup, a rotated crank-arm to produce timed oscillation of the carrier lever, and a connecting rod connecting said carrier lever with the crank-arm.

ROBERT O-'ITO WOELFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 633,953 Doble et al Sept. 26, 1899 683,039 Hagen Sept. 24, 1901 836,730 Wright Nov. 27, 1906 1,092,233 Wallace Apr. 7, 1914 1,893,389 Bellman Jan. 3, 1933 1,935,269 Jones Nov. 14, 1933 1,979,207 Milmoe Oct. 30,1934 2,029,935 Milmoe Feb. 4, 1936 2,050,547 Thayer Aug. 11, 1936 2,121,186 Crighton June 21, 1938 2,124,962 Ferguson et al July 26, 1938 2,263,501 Jones Nov. 18, 1941 2,289,820 Ardell July 14, 1942 2,399,934 Monroe May 7, 1946 2,429,536 Von Sydow Oct. 21, 1947 

